WEDMORE NEWS ISLE OF - April 2016
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ISLE OF WEDMORE NEWS April 2016 No. 436
Editorial
One of the best things about being involved in the Wedmore News is the opportunity
to see some of the revenue we raise from advertising being given to support our
local organisations. Wedmore in Bloom keep the village looking lovely with blooms
throughput the flowering seasons, whilst Wedmore Brownies are planning special
events to celebrate a Brownie pack in Wedmore for 80 years. The Twinning Association
has been part of life in Wedmore for over 40 years, with families continuing to join,
thus maintaining strong links with our French counterparts.
The editorial team has also been putting their heads together to try and bring
some fresh ideas for features in Wedmore News. So this month sees the first of what
we hope will be a regular feature called ‘A Day in the Life’. Launching the feature is
Rod Pring, our Parish Clerk. Thank you to Rod for your contribution to achieve this.
We are also hoping to launch a feature on local businesses. This is being led by Liz
Sweeney, so please see her article below and we look forward to hearing from you.
We would also like to try and do something in Wedmore News to celebrate the
Queen’s 90th birthday in June. Do you have any pictures of any events in the parish
of Wedmore celebrating royal events such as the Coronation, Royal Weddings and
Jubilee celebrations that you can share with us? If you can let us know what they
were and the names of anyone featured in them, so much the better. Of course, we
will have to see what technology will allow in terms of photo quality for printing. We
will then see what we can do.
Sue James
Deadline for May Edition: 1 April 2016
Contact the Wedmore News
Editorial Copy / Items for Publication
Sue James, The Cottage, The Willows, West End, Wedmore (712797)
Email editorwedmorenews@gmail.com
What’s On Listings and Contact Details for your Club / Organisation
Bill Sutton, 5 Dane’s Lea, Wedmore (710475)
Email whatsonwedmorenews@gmail.com
Front Cover Photos
Liz Sweeney, Cheddar Road Farm House, Cheddar Rd, Cocklake (710637)
Email photoswedmorenews@gmail.com
Advertising Copy
Isle of Wedmore News, The Council Rooms, Grants Lane, Wedmore BS28 4EA
Email mail@johnandjillmorse.co.uk (712160)
Distribution Enquiries
John Cousins at cousins389@btinternet.com (712565)
The Isle of Wedmore News welcomes all contributions and letters. It should be noted however that the
views expressed are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, or
represent any particular standpoint on the part of the publication.
Wedmore News is digital! Each edition (without adverts) will be published on The Isle of Wedmore Website,
www.theisleofwedmore.net. If you are a contributor who for copyright reasons does not want your entry
included, please make this clear when sending it to the editor. The editors also reserve the right to edit or
amend any contribution for reasons of space, conformity, legibility or legality.
2 April 2016Front Cover
Mark Hamlin has provided us with this photo of cast members of the upcoming
production of ‘The Importance of Being Ernest’ by the Wedmore Theatre Club. You
can find the dates and details of the production in this issue.
News
Parish Council Business
Due to an extremely wet December/January, the bottom of the
cemetery became flooded and most of the recent graves were surrounded by water
which was extremely upsetting for the relatives and friends of those interred there.
A meeting of the Cemetery Committee was held and advice was sought from the
contractor who had originally built the car park and access some ten years ago. He
suggested extra land drainage to be put in place; this was referred to the full Parish
Council for consideration who readily agreed. By the time you read this piece, this
remedial work will have been completed. The Council also agreed to replace some of
the wrought iron fencing at the far side of the cemetery which has rusted over the years.
Henry Butt Trophy
The Council received five nominations this year, all of which would be worthy winners
of this community service award. There could only be one winner, however, and
Council members agreed that the award be made jointly to Bernard and Elizabeth
Coulter of Bagley. Mr and Mrs Coulter are well known throughout the parish
but particularly in the Theale area for their tremendous hard work carried out in
connection with local arts events. They were presented with the trophy at the Annual
Parish Assembly by the Chair of the Parish Council, Glenys Cousins.
Portable Speed Gun
A few years ago, the Parish Council purchased a ‘speed gun’ as part of a community
speed watch scheme. Although I still have the box, the ‘gun’ is nowhere to be seen. If
anyone has any knowledge of its whereabouts, I would be very grateful!
Rod Pring
Wedmore Parish Council, Grants Lane, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EA
Telephone 713087, Email: wedmoreparishcouncil@gmail.com
Wedmore News
At a recent committee meeting of the Wedmore News, the committee considered
the applications for funding and were delighted to provide the following grants to
local organisations:
Wedmore in Bloom £750
1st Wedmore Brownies £500
Wedmore Twinning Association £500
Sue James
April 2016 3New – Focus on Businesses
Each month we bring you information on what is happening in the local societies and
clubs that play an important role in our community. As businesses also contribute
to the well-being of residents and the smooth running of our community, we think it
would be interesting to learn a bit more about the different local businesses and the
people behind them. This new monthly feature doesn’t replace the advertisements.
Advertisements are essential to enable new - and perhaps more established – residents
to find the services they need and, most important, to cover the costs of printing and
distribution!
So, if you run a business in the Parish, we would like to hear from you. Who are you?
What is your business? Are you from the Wedmore area? If not, where did you come
from? What motivated you to start, take over or carry on the business? Send the basic
information to editorwedmorenews@gmail.com and one of the editors will contact
you. We hope to make this a regular feature, highlighting one business each month.
Liz Sweeney
Queen Elizabeth’s 90th Birthday Beacon
The Queen’s 90th Birthday Beacons
21st April 2016
YO U R G U I D E TO TA K I N G PA RT
We shall be lighting a bonfire beacon on Thursday 21 April to celebrate Her
Majesty’s special birthday. Lighting up time is 7.30pm. The beacon will be at the top
of The Manor Field, Lascot Hill.
The beacon has been registered with The Queen’s Pageant Master and will be
recorded so that Her Majesty will know we are celebrating her birthday here in
Wedmore.
We welcome the community to share the celebration.
The Tincknell Family
4 April 2016The Avalon Marshes – Landscape, Heritage and Wildlife
To the south of the Isle of Wedmore lies the magical
landscape of the Avalon Marshes. A lot has been
going on in the area in recent years, in particular,
through Heritage Lottery funding Avalon Marshes
Landscape Partnership (AMLP) has brought significant investment. There are new
bird hides, heritage trails, replica buildings, leaflets, interpretation panels and an
Avalon Marshes website. There have been education projects with local schools,
volunteer training events and two Avalon Marshes Festivals. There is yet more to do,
with the Avalon Marshes Centre high on the priority list.
A view of the Avalon Marshes (by Guy Edwards, 2020VISION)
In addition, two special events are taking place in early June. The first is on
Saturday 4 June at Strode Theatre in Street. ‘Avalon Marshes – Landscape, Heritage
and Wildlife’ will be a day of talks, films and presentations by experts including local
wildlife writer and broadcaster Stephen Moss, wetland archaeologist Dr Richard
Brunning, archaeologist to Glastonbury Abbey John Allan, and wildlife expert and
broadcaster Chris Sperring MBE. The programme is still being developed, so keep
an eye on the Avalon Marshes website for more information www.avalonmarshes.org.
The second event on Sunday 5 June will be an expanded Avalon Marshes Open
Day. Based at the Avalon Marshes Centre and on the reserves, there will be a range
of wildlife and heritage activities for the whole family. The exciting addition is the
opportunity to see, close up, the new replica Romano British building and Saxon
Long Hall which have been built over the last year or so.
April 2016 5The heritage element of the day will not just be about the area’s ancient history.
The Somerset & Dorset Railway used to run through the heart of the Avalon Marshes
and is held in great affection. This year is the fiftieth anniversary of its closure and
the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust will have their special anniversary exhibition
on display. An added attraction is that Steph Gillet of the Trust will be signing copies
of his new book ‘The Somerset & Dorset Railway Through Time’.
Tickets for the Strode event go on sale in early April. More details of the whole
weekend will be posted on the Avalon Marshes website and via the regular enews
‘Messages from the Marshes’, which you can sign up for at www.avalonmarshes.org.
We look forward to seeing you at these exciting events!
The Avalon Marshes Team
A Brighter Future for the Somerset Levels
The Hills to Levels Partnership, with support from players
of People’s Postcode Lottery, launched their community
engagement programme in March. Through a programme
of free events, local people have been and are invited to
share their views on what makes the Somerset Levels
special.
Hills to Levels Community Outreach Officer, Steve
Mewes said: ‘We are here to help people from across the Levels shape a common
vision, a vision which sets the way for a brighter future for the Levels. To achieve this
we need input, knowledge and passion from everyone, young and old. We are kicking
things off with the following exciting events. They are all free, so please come along,
enjoy the presentations and give us your views.”
Hills to Levels Events, April-May, 2016
• Tuesday 19 April, ‘Archaeology of the Brue Valley’ with Richard Brunning
from the South West Heritage Trust, 7.30pm Shapwick Village Hall, Shapwick,
TA7 9NJ.
• Tuesday 26 April, ‘The Nature of the Levels’ with Mark Robins, Regional
Policy Officer at the RSPB, 7.30pm Othery Village Hall, Fore Street, Othery,
TA7 0QS.
• Thursday 5 May, ‘Somerset Levels – World Class Wetlands’ with Stephen Moss,
Naturalist, Author and Award Winning TV Producer, 7.30pm Williams Hall,
Stoke St Gregory, TA3 6EU.
• Tuesday 17 May, ‘History of Flooding in the Somerset Levels’ with Professor
Stephen Poole from the University of the West of England, 7.30pm Huish
Episcopi Academy, 6th Form Auditorium, Huish Episcopi, TA10 9SS.
Booking is not needed and all the events are free. You can also visit the Hills to
Levels website, facebook and twitter pages for all the latest updates.
If you would like to subscribe to the Hills to Levels email list and receive all the
latest news from the team, please contact Steve Mewes at steve.mewes@rspb.org.uk.
Catherine Page
6 April 2016Fire Safety in the Home
Does your smoke detector often beep when
you are cooking? Have you ever removed the
battery because it happened so regularly? It’s
quite likely that you have the wrong type of
detector fitted. Did you know that the fire
service can fit a smoke detector which is less sensitive to cooking smells and therefore
more likely to alert you to an actual fire?
The Fire Service can carry out a free fire safety check as well as arrange a home
visit to check and install detectors as well as offer valuable advice. Their aim is to
prevent fires from starting in the first place and the fire safety check is the first step.
Make contact for yourself or someone you care about today and don’t let yourself or
your loved ones be the next victim of fire.
Follow these simple steps to reduce the risk
1. Fit a working smoke alarm and test it weekly
2. Take care when cooking and never leave cooking food unattended
3. Plan and practise your escape route
4. Make a bedtime check
5. Don’t overload sockets
6. Put cigarettes right out
7. Use candles carefully
8. Have your chimney swept regularly
Lucille Simms, Village Agent
Safari Supper
A Safari Supper is being organised for Friday 27 May, with all the host houses in the
Village Square. These suppers have always been hugely successful with everybody
meeting up at Beggars Roost for something sparkly with canapés, then off with your
hosts for an evening of food and wine and back to Beggars Roost for tea or coffee.
This event is being held for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and they will be the main
beneficiaries, with some of the funds going to Wedmore in Bloom to help them
continue with the work of enhancing our lovely village. The cost of this event will be
£25 per guest, to include all wine and food.
This is a great fun event and an opportunity to have a home-cooked meal, wine and
good company, all for a good cause. Please telephone Suzanne Metters, 712515 to
reserve your place soon as possible.
Barbara Horton
Aid Box Convoy Quiz Night
On Friday 26 February an amazingly successful quiz night
was held in Wedmore Village Hall in support of Aid Box
Convoy, a charitable organisation, co-founded by our
daughter, Imogen McIntosh and set up in September 2015
April 2016 7to provide humanitarian help and support for the approximately 3,500 refugees living
at the Grande-Synthe camp in Dunkirk.
The evening started with Imogen giving an impassioned and heartfelt address
on the plight of the refugees and the horrendously muddy, winter tented conditions
they are living in. Mostly from Syria and Iraq, they comprise men, women, families
and lots of children, many of whom are unaccompanied, the majority having
escaped the war zones in their countries and the threat of ISIS. Many have already
lost family members killed in the war. Arriving at the camp with little more than
they stood up in, they presently find themselves caught in a limbo state in France
whilst they wait, in hope, for an opportunity of gaining sanctuary in Britain.
The hall was absolutely packed to the rafters with 140 keen quizzers arranged in teams of
four. Throughout the evening they were able to refresh themselves at the bar and were
nourished by a great ploughman’s supper. At the interval we were fortunate enough to
be able to auction two weeks holiday in a luxury chalet in the French Alps and also hold a
£5 raffle. In total the evening raised the staggering sum of £3,081.30 for Aid Box Convoy.
Our thanks in no small measure are due to numerous willing helpers, but particularly
our joint organisers, Mike and Penny Edmunds, for whom no praise and huge thanks
can be too great. Both of them went that extra mile, with Mike setting all the quiz
questions and Penny so very kindly persuading her son, Rob to donate two weeks
holiday in his chalet. They helped in so many other ways to make the evening such
a success.
Holly & David Cole
International Spoof Winner 2016
Competitors
This year’s International Spoof Competition held at The New Inn, Wedmore, attracted
69 entries from far and wide including Bagley, Birmingham and Boston.
8 April 2016The winner, Matt Drew, receiving the trophy from Trevor Prideaux
Players played in groups of four (8 games per round), and points were awarded
for guessing correctly, with the winner and second place going forward into the next
round, whilst the loser bought the drinks. The
lowest score for the evening was 12 out of a
possible 24, by Pete Wye, and the highest score
was 26 by Sid Ney.
The final comprised Sid Ney, Tim Hector,
Pip Nicolls the younger and Matt Drew. This
was a knuckle biting affair, with all finalists
putting their best hands forward, using their
wits and skill to lift the title of this prestigious
event. In last place was Sid with 18 points (and
buying the beers), in third place Pip with 19
points, in second place was Tim with 21 points,
in first place (receiving £69) was Matt from
Matt Drew with his lucky coins and Theale with a whopping 22 points.
winnings Trevor Prideaux
Cheddar Male Choir joint Concert with Launceston Male Voice Choir
It’s a great celebration for Children’s Hospice South West this year being the 25th
year of their foundation. Cheddar Male Choir and Launceston Male Voice Choir
have joined forces for a concert in St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells on Saturday 9 April
to help raise funds for this very worthy organisation. The doors open at 7.00pm for
a start at 7.30pm to what will be a fantastic performance of male voice singing with
many popular songs ranging from traditional to modern, with a sprinkling of songs
from the musical shows thrown in.
Tickets can be obtained in advance from any choir member or at the door on the
night for only £8. A night not to be missed.
April 2016 9Cheddar Male Voice Choir Wedmore Street Fair – 2 July 2016 Wedmore Street Fair will take place on Saturday 2 July 2016. For more information, or to book a stall, please complete the form below and return to Gareth Gosling. c/o Gareth Gosling, Applewood, Mutton Lane, Wedmore BS28 4DS, or gareth.gosling@btinternet.com. Wedmore Street Fair – 2016 Booking Form ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I / We would like to book a stall at Wedmore Street Fair on Saturday 2 July 2016. Charities £17, local groups and societies £22, commercial stalls £35. I do/ do not require a table at an additional £3. Name_____________________________________________________________ Organisation or type of stall______________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________ _____________________________Tel no:_______________________________ Email address (obligatory) for receipt and stall details__________________________________________ I enclose a cheque for:- £______________made payable to Wedmore Street Fair or BACS to WSF account: Sort code 30 91 84 Account Number 24297168. Signed________________________________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 April 2016
Wedmore Arts Festival – Back with a New Spring in its Step!
Wedmore Arts Festival returns in July 2016 with a programme of events
which will have you dancing with joy.
It begins on 7 July with a glamorous ‘Night at the Movies’ (for three
nights) performed by members of Wedmore Opera. There will also
be other events from the fields of literature, travel, music and drama.
‘Ballet Central 2016’, the touring company from London’s Central
School of Ballet, is composed of a group of young and dynamic dancers
who will be showcasing their talent in Wedmore at 7.30pm on Friday
15 July. Two of their dancers were finalists in BBC Young Dancer of the Year 2015.
Tickets are already available for this magnificent performance which features newly
commissioned works as well as some much-loved favourites.
Booking has also opened for an evening of laughter. Danny Ward is a rising star
in the world of stand-up comedy. He won the ‘Amused Moose’ Award for Best Show
at The Edinburgh Festival in 2013 and will be bringing his hilarious act to Wedmore
on Saturday 16 July.
For tickets, and constantly updated information, please go to our website
wedmoreartsfestival.co.uk
Dorothy Wright
A Day in the Life of the Parish Clerk
‘So what do you think you can bring to the Parish
Council?’
This was one of the questions asked when I
attended an interview with members of the Parish
Clerk selection committee in November 2012. I
had anticipated this question along with several
others and had given the answer some considerable
thought. What I thought I could offer was reliability,
flexibility, confidentiality, good administrative
skills, experience in working as a member of a team,
and most importantly common sense!
I served as a police officer for over 22 years,
much of that time spent within the Cheddar valley
area followed by a further 10 years as a Health
& Safety/Security Manager with an international
logistics company. I felt I was well qualified for
the role of Parish Clerk and thankfully so did the
Rod Pring Parish Council members. My predecessor, Simon
Emary, was invaluable during the 6 months hand-over period and is still available
for help and advice.
Parish councils have a variety of powers and duties that impact on the local
community and part of my role is to ensure that council members do not exceed those
powers and leave the council open to legal process. There are several websites that
show the full list of responsibilities and these include allotments, burial grounds, public
April 2016 11seats, bus shelters, play areas, community halls, etc. Highways, planning, lighting and
drainage are officially the responsibility of other authorities, although parish councils
are consulted and can make recommendations on these issues.
In order to carry out its duties, the Parish Council receives a precept from the
District Council each year and this is its main source of income. For the last few years
the annual precept has been approximately £62,000. Another role I undertake is
‘Responsible Finance Officer’ to the Parish Council. This is another legal requirement
and requires that I prepare the annual council budget and ensure all monies coming
in and going out are properly accounted for. I prepare a set of accounts monthly
which are audited by two councillors and all accounts are agreed and settled at the
monthly council meeting.
The full council meets once a month and the committees of the council meet as
required. They are Planning, Highways, Facilities, Allotments and Footpaths, Finance
and General Purposes, Housing and Cemetery. One of my main duties is to prepare
agendas and take minutes of all these meetings. The busiest committee is the Planning
Committee which meets at least once a month and considers over 100 planning
applications per year. Excluding the larger towns of Bridgwater and Burnham-on-
Sea, this is more than any other parish in Sedgemoor District. I have never missed a
full council meeting in three and a half years and have only missed one committee
meeting in that time. Planning applications have to be advertised and we do this by
using public noticeboards in Wedmore, Blackford, Theale, Mudgley and Cocklake,
together with our own website.
I have already mentioned that the precept is our main source of income. Other
incomes are received from allotment holders who pay an annual rent and burial fees
in respect of the village cemetery. Burial records are kept at the Council Rooms and
are very important historical documents. I receive many requests each year from
relatives all over the world wishing to trace family members buried at Wedmore.
The three play areas at Wedmore, Blackford and Theale all have their own
management committees under the umbrella of the Parish Council. I arrange annual
safety inspections to comply with our insurance obligations and assist the committees
to ensure any defects are quickly rectified.
The office in Grants Lane is normally open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
mornings. We don’t get many callers these days as most of the correspondence is by
e-mail or letter. The vast majority of correspondence we get relates to highway matters
and these are forwarded to the appropriate council department. I usually suggest that
residents report highway issues direct on-line as they seem to get a faster response
than I get! Finance is the biggest excuse for not getting things done. If you want an
ambulance, you dial 999 and you will get one in minutes. If you want a piece of road
repaired or a sign replaced, unless it is life threatening it won’t happen for weeks…
or longer! All these works are prioritised; it can be very frustrating at times.
So there you have it, a brief synopsis of the role of the Parish Clerk. Setting agendas
and taking minutes may not seem an exciting job but what makes the job enjoyable
is serving the community, the variety of work and the uncertainty of what the next
day will bring.
Rod Pring
12 April 2016Reports and Society Updates
St Mary’s Church 100 Club
Renee and Leslie Weedon were the winners of the March draw, holding No. 96, and
receiving the £20 prize. Runner up was Nick Wright with his No. 74, winning £10.
Congratulations
Thelma Jenkins-Jones
Wedmore WI Report – February 2016
There were fewer of us than usual, probably due to grand-parenting
duties, but we welcomed a visitor, Christine, and the business meeting
included news of our summer outing, on Wednesday 8 June, to
Berkeley Castle and Bristol Blue Glass. Diana is collecting names.
Sue Simmons was our speaker, previously known to us as a Country
Markets cook and manager, but this time she was telling us about her
‘day job’, which is with Wessex Water. We had a fascinating evening
learning where our tap water comes from, and how it ends up fit to
drink. Wessex Water has 1.3 million customers, who usually consume
280 million litres a day, though at Christmas this drops to 100 million litres, and in
the summer can go up to 450 million litres.
Sue had brought six large glass bottles of water, of varying states of colour and
clarity. Her illustrated talk showed us how water is collected, stored, treated and
finally piped to our homes. Somerset doesn’t have the right geology for boreholes,
but alternative sources are springs, not used as they can be contaminated with
bacteria and other impurities, and reservoirs built by damming a valley and flooding
it. Upland reservoirs are relatively clean, but those at low levels, fed by rivers, can be
contaminated by the run-off from farms. Sue’s first bottle of water had been drawn
from a reservoir, and you wouldn’t have wanted to drink it! We learned how particles
are removed by filtration, through sand and carbon, which chemicals are added and
what they do, and gradually the bottles of water appeared cleaner and more sparkling.
Finally chlorine is added to destroy bacteria; there must be enough to keep the water
clean as it passes through the pipes to our homes. Sue also told us about the work that
goes on to maintain the water system, with pipes needing to be replaced or re-lined
and the chaos that that can cause as roads are dug up, as we all know only too well.
Jane gave the vote of thanks for a most interesting evening and we agreed we would
view our water bills in a different light.
The competition, for a photograph of a lake or reservoir, was won by Carol. The
April meeting is on Thursday 21, when Caroline Francis-Payne will tell us about
‘Quilting’. The competition is for a ‘’piece of your own handiwork”. Visitors and
guests are always welcome.
Chris Barker
April 2016 13Isle of Wedmore Society Report – February 2016
Antonio Paladino from The Bioaqua Farm, Blackford, gave us one of the most
interesting talks we have had for a very long time.
Antonio left Italy aged 20 and arrived in London where he became a chef and
years later, wanting a different career, came across the future of sustainable farming
called aquaponics – a marriage of agriculture and horticulture.
This is a system of water that starts in a fish tank full of trout and passes along a
channel to the growing bed (where the plant roots extract the minerals from the water)
and the then clean water returns to the fish tank to complete the ever moving cycle.
This is a very sustainable form of farming; the system uses a fraction of the water
used by soil-based farming and there is no tilling, weeding, no soil-borne diseases,
and also no pesticides, chemicals or antibiotics are used.
The produce is 100% organic and uses 70% less energy in its production. The
farm was the first of its kind in the UK and the produce is sold through agents, the
Glastonbury market and The Food Assembly in Frome.
We have never had so many questions put to a speaker, which proved what an
interesting and informative talk Antonio gave us.
Many members said they would love to visit the farm and we hope to arrange this
later in the year.
Chris Edwards, Speakers Secretary
April Director’s Blog – ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’
For years I resisted staging ‘Earnest’ in Wedmore. I’d seen too
many static, stuffy, old-fashioned productions – including films –
that consisted mainly of people sitting around in drawing rooms
delivering witty lines at each other, with little impression that
anything much actually happened.
Indeed, many productions seemed merely to be providing Oscar Wilde with a
theatrical vehicle for his famous witty aphorisms and an opportunity for a famous
actress of a certain age, playing Lady Bracknell, to enquire ‘a handbag?’ to great
comic effect.
Our team has been determined to make the play about more than this. It is, in
fact, about many things, but above all it is about the irrepressible exuberance of the
young and the selfish and arbitrary efforts of the old to repress it. This is, of course, a
timeless theme and provides the necessary dramatic conflict and much of the comedy.
Modern theatre no longer delivers ‘all lines and no action’ shows. Contemporary
audiences, especially younger ones, expect dramatic and entertaining action as well
as a witty script.
I believe Oscar’s original intention, along with his wicked desire to satirise the
English upper-classes, was to entertain audiences through a mixture of vitality, joy,
fun and wit. I hope that our interpretation of ‘Earnest’ will be, for our audience, like
biting into a ripe, juicy lime – fresh, zesty and sharp, but with a hint of sweetness.
Sue Rippon
14 April 2016Wedmore in Bloom
Wedmore News Sponsors Wedmore in Bloom
Wedmore in Bloom applied for funds to be allocated to them when
Wedmore News announced that they would accept requests from
organisations at the beginning of the year. We were delighted to find
out that the Wedmore News committee had decided to grant us a donation of £750.
The cheque was handed over to Barbara Horton, Co-ordinator and Brenda Squires,
Treasurer of Wedmore in Bloom by Sue James and Liz Sweeney, of the editorial team
of Wedmore News.
From left to right: Brenda Squires, Barbara Horton, Sue James, Liz Sweeney
As the ‘Bloomers’ would be unable to continue their work without the sponsorship
of local businesses, clubs, societies and local residents, we are extremely grateful
to Wedmore News for their generosity. This means we can consider other projects
as well as maintaining the current level of displays. The ever-rising price of plants,
soil, fertiliser and the occasional employment of help with some of the heavier jobs,
has meant that we have had to cut back on schemes to enhance our lovely village.
Some of the new schemes we have in mind are placing a large holly in a pot on
the Borough side of the Village Stores to enhance the stone wall, and renewing
the notice board in the Borough Mall, to display a professionally created village
map with illustrations of some of our interesting buildings, together with a
compartment for business cards numbered to indicate their placement on the
map. We are planning an Apple Day for 22 October, where we hope to encourage
local children and others to take part in activities in connection with apples.
The ‘Bloomers’ will continue to renew the container plants seasonally twice a year,
April 2016 15plus maintaining several permanent planting areas such as at St Medard Road, the bed
outside the playing fields and a wildflower area in the churchyard. The small copse of
silver birch surrounding the Millenium Stone in the recreation grounds planted last year
will continue to need watering, as will the grass and stone beds at the Borough Mall.
Our heartfelt thanks go to all who support us.
Barbara Horton
Wedmore Gardening Club
We are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Isle of Wedmore
Gardening Club this year. Over the years we have had many
interesting speakers with their tales of plant hunting in far flung
places, as well as from local horticulturalists with tips on growing
varied plants from bonsai to vegetables. We’ve had coach trips to
gardens in Devon, Hampshire, Gloucestershire and South Wales.
The committee works hard at planning varied talks, trips, Christmas parties and of
course the annual plant sale.
The Annual Plant Sale and Coffee Morning this year will be on Saturday 16 April
from 9.30am onwards in the Masonic Hall. We’re hoping to make this a grand 30th
celebration! If you have seedlings or cuttings please bring them along or pass them
to a committee member.
The April talk is on Tuesday 26 April at 7.30pm at the Masonic Hall. Brian Carlson
will talk on ‘All Aspects of Fuchsias’.
Andrea West
Wedmore Green Group 16th Freecycle Day on Sunday 3 April
Wedmore Green Group is holding the village’s 16th Freecycle
Day on Sunday 3 April. Following the huge success of the last
fifteen we’re asking parishioners to have another sort through
their ‘junk’ and bring it along.
What you do is collect together all the stuff that you don’t
need anymore, all those bits and bobs in the shed, garage or
attic; bring it down to the car park and set up your stall. Then
everyone comes along and helps themselves!
There only two rules:
1. No money must change hands;
2. You take home what you cannot give away.
One man’s junk is another’s treasure! And less goes to landfill. This is a fun way
to encourage the second mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle, thus slowing a little our
insatiable consumerism. Also a chance for a good chat and gossip with the neighbours.
For more information about Wedmore Green Group, visit the website
www.greenwedmore.co.uk
Steve Mewes
16 April 2016Friends of St. Mary’s
Annual General Meeting
Many thanks to all those who attended the AGM. The numbers present reflect the
emphasis placed on the skittles and on the quality of the New Inn’s fish and chips
rather than the AGM! We raised £7,000 last year and even after the contributions
to the tower renovations and to the new sound system there is plenty in the kitty to
help with other projects to maintain the church as an all village community centre, a
beautiful building and the backdrop to our village lives.
Dates for your diaries
‘TEA & TOWER’: On Bank Holiday Monday, 2 May. Following the works to the
balustrade of the tower we can now go up again to enjoy the best view on the village.
From 10am to 5pm small accompanied groups at 20-minute intervals will be allowed
up. Children must be with adults and no children under 8 years old. Watch out for
details soon. £6.00 for tea and cake - the tower visit is free!
NANTWICH (Now Another That’s What I Call Hymns): On Saturday 18th June
at 6pm - a predictably beautiful mid-summer evening. To celebrate the Queen’s 90th
birthday there will be hymns and readings from each decade of her reign enlivened
by wine, the Bridgwater Salvation Army Band and local choirs. Watch out for ticket
details as this will be a full house.
For information about the Friends of St. Mary’s contact David Hopkins.
dahopkins@aol.com or 710149
IT for the Terrified
IT for the Terrified, for all your computer training needs. A skill-
sharing, informal, community project. Run by a committee, staffed
by volunteers.
We will reopen from our Easter break on Monday 11 April.
Two Open House sessions will be Wednesday 13 April 1.30-
3.30pm and Friday 15 April from10.00am -12.00noon. Call in to
find out more about us, chat to trainers, and book a session if you wish. Free entry
includes coffee.
Two Workshops – Introduction to iPads, Thursday 21 April, 10.00am-12.00 and
Introduction to Tablets Thursday 28 April, 10.00am -12.00noon.
We offer 1:1 sessions to help you to use a computer, iPad, tablet, smartphone or
Mac in a friendly, relaxed environment.
Thursday afternoons ‘Computer drop in’ £2.00 per visit. Ideal for a small problem
that doesn’t need a full 2-hour session. No need to book, just drop in (term time only,
1.30 - 3.30pm).
To contact us telephone 741751, or email itfortheterrified@btconnect.com, or
visit our website www.itfortheterrified.co.uk
IT for the Terrified, The Old Cowshed, Station Road, Cheddar. BS27
3AG. Next to the War Memorial - not the Market Cross. Opening hours
match Kings Academy term times.
April 2016 17Registered Charity No. 1130308. Our normal opening hours are 10.00am-12.00
noon and 1.30pm-3.30pm, Monday-Friday.
If you can spare two hours a week and have skills on any level, including basics,
especially on iPad or tablet, that you would like to share with others, please get in touch.
Cheddar Valley University of the Third Age (U3A)
Thursday 7 April. This month’s presentation is entitled ‘Barefoot
to Buckingham Palace’ by Susan Marshfield, a well-known local
speaker. Susan gives her own take on Buckingham Palace garden
parties. Join us at Cheddar Village Hall at 2.15pm, entry £2,
visitors welcome.
On Thursday 21 April we have our regular Meet & Greet Coffee Morning from
10.30am – 12.00 noon at Cheddar Village Hall. Visitors are welcome. Telephone
744241 or visit www.cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk for more details.
Roger Coe
Weather Report for February 2016
RAIN FALL Monthly Total 58.0mm (2.28˝)
30 year average 53.1mm (2.09˝)
Wettest day (6th) 17.0mm (0.67˝)
No of dry days 13
Last 3 months (Dec-Feb) 195mm (7.66˝)
Year ending 29 Feb 2016 761mm (29.97˝)
30 year annual average 797mm (31.38˝)
TEMPERATURES Maximum (21st) 14.0 °C (57.2 °F)
Minimum (16th) -5 °C (23.0 °F)
Number of air frosts 12
Monthly average maximum 8.6 °C (47.5 °F)
30 year average maximum 8.5 °C (47.3 °F)
Monthly average minimum 1.47 °C (34.6 °F)
30 year average minimum 2.1 °C (35.8 °F)
COMMENTS Annual rainfall total now running below 30-year average.
Denley Brown
Cheddar Vale Lions Club
Cheddar Vale Lions Club thank all those who supported our Easter Egg
Raffle. The proceeds will be split between our Defibrillator Appeal and
Lions work in the community. We hope to purchase our first defibrillator
shortly and to have it up and running as soon as possible.
Our Annual Senior Citizens Tea Party is being held on Saturday 9 April at Shipham
Village Hall. If you would like to come please ring Lion Marion on 740366 to book
your place.
18 April 2016Next month is our Annual Duck Race in the Gorge on Monday 30 May. All
proceeds will go to Children’s Hospice South West who celebrate the 25th Anniversary
of their foundation this year. Please buy a ticket when you see us out and about before
the event and come and join in the fun on that afternoon.
Janet Clark
Forthcoming Events
Fairtrade Coffee Morning – Saturday 2 April
St Mary’s Church welcomes everyone to visit our Fairtrade coffee shop from 9.30am
to 12.00 noon. There will be a variety of homemade cakes to enjoy with Fairtrade tea
and coffee. Pop in for a quick visit or enjoy some relaxation with the daily newspapers.
We look forward to seeing you.
Wedmore Green Group 16th Freecycle Day – Sunday 3 April
From 10.00am to 11.30am at Wedmore car park.
Bring all your unwanted stuff to the car park and set up your stall. Everyone then
comes along and helps themselves!
There only two rules: no money must change hands and you take home what you
cannot give away.
Wedmore Theatre Club – Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 April
Presents ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at 7.30pm in Wedmore
Village Hall. Numbered seats available.
Mr Punch’s Folk Club – Friday 8 and 22 April
At the New Inn, Wedmore at 8.00pm.
On Friday 8 April, open mic session featuring Malcolm Harris traditional singer
accompanied by guitar mandolin and banjo. On Friday 22 April, open mic session
featuring Thornbridge, a well-known and popular Bristol folk trio. Entrance £1
Isle of Wedmore Gardening Club, Annual Plant Sale and Coffee
Morning – Saturday 16 April
From 9.30am onwards, in the Masonic Hall. We’re hoping to make this a grand 30th
celebration! If you have seedlings or cuttings please bring them along or pass them
to a committee member.
Wedmore Twinning Association Quiz Night – Saturday 16 April
On Saturday 16 April at 7.00pm in the Masonic Hall we will be holding another of
our famous quiz evenings. Tickets £7.50 per head, to include a light supper, can be
obtained from committee members or direct from Cameron Swales, 713342. A bar
will be available. We hope to see you all there.
April 2016 19Parish Council Meeting – Wednesday 20 April
The meeting of the Parish Council will be held on at 7.30pm at the Council Rooms
Grants Lane. Parishioners are welcome to attend.
WI Meeting – Thursday 21 April
At 7.30pm in the Masonic Hall. Our speaker will be Caroline Francis-
Payne, who will talk about ‘Quilting’. The competition is for ‘A piece of
your own handiwork’. Visitors and guests are always welcome, and there
is tea, coffee and biscuits and time to chat at the end of each meeting. For
more information contact Chris Barker, 2 Dunns Close Wedmore BS28
4BL, 712182 chris@cjbarker.plus.com
Wedmore Methodist Church Spring Bazaar – Saturday 23 April
A Spring Bazaar will be held in the Masonic Hall, Church Street, Wedmore on
Saturday 23 April from 10.00am until 12.00 noon. Various stalls will include crafts,
homemade cakes and preserves, tombola, bric-a-brac, books, toys, plants, raffle. Tea/
coffee and biscuits will be served. Sit around with your friends for a friendly chat.
Everyone welcome. Anyone wishing to take a craft stall please contact either Gwen
Fisher 712629 or Angeline Duckett 712631 for further details.
Theale Flower Show - The Queen’s 90th Birthday Tea Party –
Saturday 23 April
Theale Flower Show would like to invite you to a very special birthday party,
celebrating the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at 3.00pm at Theale
Village Hall. There will be traditional afternoon tea, a quiz (one for adults and one
for children), live piano accompaniment, as well as a children’s fancy dress parade,
with prizes for the quiz winners and the best fancy dress.
Tickets are £6 for adults and £3 for children. There will be a limited number
of tickets so please apply promptly if you would like to be there! Telephone Sheila
Badman, 712414 or Yvonne Hutchison, 712729 or find out more and book tickets
online by 15 April at www.thealeflowershow.com.
Queen Elizabeth’s 90th Birthday Beacon – Saturday 23 April
The Tincknell family will be lighting a beacon at the top of the Manor Field, Lascot
Hill at 7.30pm. The community is welcome to share the celebration.
Theale Film Club – Sunday 24 April
The film is ‘The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet’. Doors open at 6.30pm for 7.00pm
prompt start, at Theale Village Hall. For more information please contact Lesley Luke,
713176, lesleyluke@live.co.uk, Bernard Coulter, 712144, bcoulter@talktalk.net, or
Pam Meadows, 712143.
Isle of Wedmore Gardening Club – Tuesday 26 April
Starting at 7.30pm in the Masonic Hall. Brian Carlson will talk on ‘All
Aspects of Fuchsias’. Please come and join us. Details Carol Gibson,
01278 641345
22 April 2016Isle of Wedmore Society – Thursday 28 April The meeting will be at 7.30pm in the Masonic Hall. The speaker will be Mike Lake (RN retd.). His talk is entitled ‘Look no Hands’. Come and learn something about drones! Members free; visitors, who will be most welcome, £3 to include tea/coffee and biscuits. Supper Concert for Wedmore Opera – Friday 29 April Following their hugely successful concert last year, Syrinx return to Wedmore at Wedmore Village Hall. Once again they will be performing a varied selection, including Beethoven’s Quintet in E flat for piano & winds, Movements from Reinecke - Trio in A minor, and Caplet’s Quintet for piano & winds. The evening commences at 7.30pm.Tickets, to include supper, are £20 and are available from the Village Store. For further information, please see the website wedmoreopera.com. St Mary’s Church Tea and Tower – Monday 2 May Following the works to the balustrade of the tower we can now go up again to enjoy the best view on the village. From 10.00am to 5.00pm small accompanied groups at 20-minute intervals will be allowed up. Children must be with adults and no children under 8 years old. Watch out for details soon. £6.00 for tea and cake - the tower visit is free! For information contact David Hopkins, dahopkins@aol.com or telephone 710149. An Evening with the RNLI – Sunday 15 May At The Swan Hotel, Wedmore at 6.30pm. Mr. Alan Tyson, an RNLI volunteer, will be giving a talk/film about the history of the RNLI. Tickets will be available from 1 April from the RNLI shop Burnham-on-Sea, Wedmore Village Store and The Swan Hotel. Safari Supper – Friday 27 May Host houses will all be in the Village Square. This event is being held for the Teenage Cancer Trust, the main beneficiaries, with some of the funds going to Wedmore in Bloom to help them continue with their work. Tickets are £25 per guest, to include all wine and food. Telephone Suzanne Metters, 712515 to reserve your place. NANTWICH (Now ANother That’s What I Call Hymns) – Saturday 25 June At 6.00pm. Friends of St. Mary’s invite you to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. There will be hymns and readings from each decade of her reign enlivened by wine, the Bridgwater Salvation Army Band and local choirs. Watch out for ticket details as this will be a full house. For information contact David Hopkins, dahopkins@aol.com, telephone 710149. Wedmore Arts Festival – Thursday 8 to Sunday 17 July A festival of opera, drama, literature, comedy and music. For further details visit the website wedmoreartsfestival.co.uk. April 2016 23
Wedmore Methodist Church Flower Festival - Friday 15 to Sunday
17 July
This will be our third Flower Festival and the theme chosen for 2016 is ‘Wedding
Anniversaries’. It will take place in The Methodist Church and entrance is free.
Friday and Saturday opening will be 10.00 am to 5.00pm with coffee and cake in the
morning, soup and roll lunch time, cream teas in the afternoon.
Sunday morning there will be a ‘Café Service’ in the Methodist Schoolroom
commencing at 10.30am. The Preacher will be Lois Emm from Cheddar. Everyone
is welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you again this year at our Flower
Festival, further details available from all Methodist Church Members.
Events Taking Place
Outside the Parish
Cheddar Valley Lions Senior Citizens Tea Party – Saturday 9 April
Our Annual Senior Citizens Tea Party is being held at Shipham Village Hall.
If you would like to come please telephone Lion Marion, 740366 to book your
place.
Cheddar Male Choir joint Concert with Launceston Male Voice Choir
Concert – Saturday 9 April
In aid of The Children’s Hospice South West. At St. Cuthbert’s Church, Wells, BA5
2AW. Doors open at 7.00pm, with the concert starting at 7.30pm.
Tickets can be obtained in advance from any choir member or at the door on the
night for only £8.
Cheddar Arts @ Kings Theatre – Monday 18 April
Comedian Richard Herring, is appearing at Kings Theatre in his 12th solo stand up
show, ‘Happy Now?’ in which he ponders – happiness.
Tickets are available online at www.thelittleboxoffice.com/cheddararts. For help
call 744939 extension 2 or visit Kings Fitness & Leisure in person. Payment for the
new booking system is by credit/debit card only and cash will only be accepted for
tickets sold on the door.
Hills to Levels Events – Tuesday 19 April and Tuesday 26 April
‘Archaeology of the Brue Valley’ with Richard Brunning from the South West Heritage
Trust at 7.30pm on 19 April at Shapwick Village Hall, TA7 9NJ.
‘The Nature of the Levels’ with Mark Robins, Regional Policy Office at the RSPB
at 7.30pm on 26 April at Othery Village Hall, Fore Street, Othery TA7 0QS
24 April 2016Axbridge Archaeological and Local History Society
– Wednesday 20 April
At Cross Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. Brigadier (retd) Johnny Torrens-
Spence will be talking about ‘Axbridge in the Monmouth Rebellion
1685.’
Axbridge, with many other towns and villages in the West Country, was caught
up in the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, its climax at the Battle of Sedgemoor (the
last battle fought on English soil), and its dreadful aftermath, the Bloody Assizes of
Judge Jeffries. Several men of the town were involved in the rebellion, and six rebels
were hanged in Axbridge town square.
Johnny Torrens-Spence, an amateur military historian, will give an illustrated talk
about the events surrounding the Monmouth Rebellion from the perspective of those
who were living around Axbridge at the time – what motivated those who supported
the rebellion, and what became of them afterwards.
Moor Harmony and the Mendip Consort Concert – Saturday 23 April
Cheddar-based folk choir Moor Harmony, folk musicians Issy & David Emeney
and The Mendip Consort recorder ensemble are joining forces to put on a fabulous
evening of folk and baroque music in St. Andrews Church, Cheddar commencing at
7.00pm. Proceeds in aid of the Village Hall.
Moor Harmony, who are always happy to welcome new members, sing the songs of
our heritage. Glorious English folk fongs with fabulous tunes, irresistible choruses and
words to touch the heart, all arranged by their folk musician leader Issy Emeney in
stunning four-part harmony. Issy is a well-known and respected composer, melodeon
player and performer on the English folk scene, and together with her husband David,
has three albums recorded with the acclaimed traditional Wild Goose record label to
her name. The Mendip Consort play an amazing array of recorders ranging from the
tiny high pitched sopranino to the gigantic contra bass. The finale of the evening will
see all three performers coming together to sing and play one of Issy’s compositions
‘The First of May’, to celebrate the coming of summer. Come and join in! Contact
Jane Burdock, 743834 or Issy Emeney, 741551.
Cheddar Arts Fringe Festival – Friday 29 April to Sunday 1 May
This spring the Cheddar Arts Fringe Festival will be bigger and better than the popular
event held last year.
The festival opens with a showcase event at Chestnut Barn Studio, Kent Street
on Friday 29 April from 6.00pm to 9.00pm, where samples of all the artists’ work will
be on display throughout the evening.
There will be a well-mapped walking tour around Cheddar as local artists and
crafts-people throw open their studios and venues. It will be possible to chat to the
artists and watch some of them at work. The exhibition will include painting, sculpture,
textiles, fused glass, ceramics, calligraphic art, jewellery, music and poetry. In addition,
there is a Children’s Challenge with activities and prizes.
Check out the website www.cheddarartists.com nearer the time for details of other
activities in the library, pubs and cafes throughout the village.
Opening hours 10.00am to 4.00pm daily.
April 2016 25Samples of artists’ work 2016 26 April 2016
Hills to Levels Events – Thursday 5 May and Thursday 17 May
‘Somerset Levels – World Class Wetlands’ with Stephen Moss at 7.30pm on 5 May at
Williams Hall, Stoke St. Gregory, TA3 6EU.
‘History of Flooding in the Somerset Levels’ with Professor Stephen Poole from
the University of the West of England at 7.30pm on 17 May, Huish Episcopi Academy,
6th Form Auditorium TA10 9SS.
Cheddar Valley Lions Club, Annual Duck Race – Monday 30 May
Taking place in the Gorge. All proceeds will go to Children’s Hospice South West
who celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their foundation this year. Please buy a ticket
when you see us out and about before the event and come and join in the fun on that
afternoon.
Avalon Marshes ‘Landscape, Heritage and Wildlife – Saturday 4 June
A day of talks, films and presentations at Strode Theatre, Street. For more information
visit the Avalon Marshes website www.avalonmarshes.org.
Avalon Marshes Open Day – Sunday 5 June
To be held at the Avalon Marshes Centre and on the reserves, there will be a range
of wildlife and heritage activities for the whole family. Also an opportunity to see the
newly constructed replica Romano British building and Saxon Long Hall which have
been built over the last year or so.
In addition, the Somerset & Dorset Railway is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary
of its closure; there will be a special anniversary exhibition on display.
For more information visit the Avalon Marshes website www.avalonmarshes.org.
Polly’s Kitchen
Now this is a recipe that I always thought was complicated and
therefore had put off making it until just before Christmas last year,
when I found out that it was in fact so very easy and delicious. To
supper guests it will seem really impressive, when in fact it is a doddle.
Gravadlax will keep for up to a week in the fridge and if you don’t
want to make a whole side of it, then cut the recipe in half and it can be a mid-week
treat. I like to serve this with a pickled cucumber salad to add some zing and some
half fat creme fraiche mixed with horseradish. It makes a great starter accompanied
with some rye bread or is a perfect Sunday night ‘snackette’.
The whole thing can be prepared well in advance, making it a hassle free dish, a
win win starter!
Gravadlax (Serves 6 to 8 people as a starter)
For the salmon
85g caster sugar
70g flaky sea salt
April 2016 272 tbs gin
2 tbs freshly ground black pepper
100g fresh, chopped dill
500g fresh salmon fillet, skin on, bones removed
For the cucumber salad
1 large cucumber, peeled and finely sliced
1 tsp salt
2 tsp caster sugar
fresh ground pepper
1-2 tbs cider vinegar
1 tbs fresh, chopped dill
For the sauce
1 small tub half or full fat creme fraiche
1 tbs hot horseradish sauce
Salt and pepper to season
Method
Firstly prepare the salmon and bear in mind that it needs to do its thing in the fridge
for at least 24 hours, but no more than 48 hours, so build this into the preparation
time. Mix the salt, sugar, pepper, gin and dill together thoroughly in a small bowl. Pat
the salmon dry with a kitchen towel and place in a dish that has fairly high sides, to
avoid leaking all over your fridge, like it did in mine! Rub the mix all over the top of
the salmon and then cover with cling film and place in the fridge to cure for at least
24 hours. After this time has elapsed, very quickly run the salmon under the tap to
remove the salt, but hopefully not all the dill and then pat dry with a kitchen towel.
The fish will feel much firmer and you will be amazed how much fluid has been drawn
out in the curing process. Wrap in cling film until needed or slice thinly on an angle
and wrap up for serving later.
The cucumber salad is also better if it has had a little time to pickle in its dressing,
so I advise you do this a couple of hours in advance too. Simply mix the salt, pepper,
sugar and cider vinegar together in a bowl, pop in the sliced cucumber and chopped
dill, mix well, cover in cling film and leave in the fridge with the salmon. Now for the
next really easy part: mix the creme fraiche with the horesradish sauce and add a bit
of seasoning and the job’s done.
Now all you have to do is assemble it all as beautifully as you can on plates and
wow your lucky guests!
Polly Costello
The Garden in April
April is usually thought of as the month when the garden really comes
to life, particularly here in the milder climate of the south-west. At the
time of writing, we are only three quarters of the way through February,
28 April 2016but due to the mild winter we’ve been having, the display of daffodils and other narcissi
is well under way, although March is usually what I think of as daffodil month, so
what will be happening by April?
If you go to one of the classic landscaped gardens in the region, in April you will see
flowering trees and shrubs such as rhododendrons (botanically this includes azaleas)
and magnolias at their best and various species and varieties will continue to give a
magnificent display until the end of May.
In their native habitats, many, if not all, of these are woodland plants and in the
wild get some protection from fluctuating weather from larger trees in amongst which
they grow. Often in our gardens, this kind of protection is not available to them so
they may be damaged by a sudden drop in night temperature, for example. The odd
plant can be covered with fleece when cold nights are forecast, but if you have a lot of
susceptible plants often you just have to live with the weather and accept any damage
that may occur. I once was involved in the potato growing industry in Scotland and
often, if early potatoes were threatened by frost, growers would turn on irrigation
sprinklers to keep the leaves from freezing, but this is not a method that many people
would be equipped to use in their garden.
By the time you read this, I am sure most of you will have cut your grass for the
first time, if not more than once. If you have clumps of coarse undesirable grasses in
your lawn, they will often escape being mowed because the mower causes them to lie
down as it passes over them; if this happens, rake them with the lawn rake and mow
them again. Most coarse grasses do not like close mowing and will gradually disappear
if you do this. Now is the time to apply lawn fertilizers; slow release ones are best as
they are not leached away by the first shower of rain and are absorbed and used by
the grass rather than polluting the nearest waterway.
For an interested gardener, life is full of lessons and we can learn something
new almost every day. I have had gardens of my own since 1970 and was interested
in them long before that (Mr. Gruntphuttock has nothing on me). If you have the
sort of mind that files away experiences and observations for future use, all well and
good, but of course many gardeners find that keeping some sort of diary is necessary
if they are to remember everything. However you do it, remembering how plants
behave in given circumstances and therefore what to do when those conditions occur
again is what marks out the really successful gardener. This particularly applies to
choosing the sowing dates for vegetables; if however you have not been doing it for
long enough to learn lessons from experience, don’t be afraid to ask those who have;
most gardeners are happy enough to pass on knowledge to others. Also, of course,
plenty of information is now available on the internet and if you don’t or can’t use
that then seed catalogues and packets have plenty of information. Wherever you get
your guidance from, this is the time of year when simple successional sowing will bring
good results with most crops. Beware of low night temperature causing vegetable
seedlings to bolt. Sweet-corn can be sown at the very beginning of May for cropping
in September (if the badgers don’t find it first). Cucumbers and marrows can soon
be outside safely and runner and french beans should be happy enough at night now.
The earliest of spring-flowering shrubs will have done their thing by now. Flowering
currants (ribes), forsythia and viburnum fragrans, for example, flower on year-old
April 2016 29You can also read
